Released list announced

Shame for Ward, I thought he was excellent in the holding role. Best of luck.
 
TimperleyTangerine said:
I’m struggling to see how Ward or any player would turn down a contract when recovering from serious injury. He would want to be training and being cared for by the club.

If you consider ability and potential values when fit, the better bet would always be Ward.

As for your comment about us not being a convalescent home, the lad suffered a serious injury playing for us. We’re throwing him out at the first opportunity.

I’m not disagreeing with you, I’m just trying to get my head around the difference in treatment.
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No, Ward would have been thrown out 1st opportunity immediately after his injury, he wasn't.

Whichever way you want to spin it the club has helped Ward through this injury for the last 9 months.
 
Wizzerboy said:
No, Ward would have been thrown out 1st opportunity immediately after his injury, he wasn't.

Whichever way you want to spin it the club has helped Ward through this injury for the last 9 months.
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A club can’t throw a player out when he’s injured, they still have to abide by the contract. They have offloaded him first opportunity, when his contract expires.

No spin, I’m just sad to see the lad go, he always worked hard for the team. I wish him well.
 
Thatseasider said:
Small fee I heard from someone at non league level for Bange, all revenue at the end of the day I guess.

Think Keogh's a good lad to have around the dressing room for people like Tharme and Casey as this is going to be a career defining year for both I'd say.


Bids have been received for Grimmy, with Maxwell's future up in the air apparently, make sense to keep Moore on.


Hope we are allowing Ward to stay with us to get fit and receive any medical assistance he needs
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Bange was offered a new 1+1 deal but turned it down.
Not sure if that is a way of securing a little bit of extra money for him but unless he was been looked at by a National League side I can't see the fee being anything other than "modest".
Like any young player he does of course want to play so that will surely mean a permanent move away or another loan next season.
He started this season in fine form at Bamber Bridge but has stalled a bit since Christmas. Obviously I wish him all the best and hope he can make a career for himslf at EFL level.
Sadly I don't think it will be with us.
 
TimperleyTangerine said:
Really poor form, releasing Ward, if the lad has a chance of resuming his career. Should we not try to give him a chance, even for a year. Critch did for Virtue when his contract expired and he was injured. Disappointed in the club, but maybe they reached a mutual agreement. I hope so.
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Football can be very cruel.
Wardy had some good (and bad) games for us but I'm afraid I have to agree with the "Top Brass" on this one.
By the same token however I probably wouldn't have offered Keogh another deal unless it was part of the coaching staff.
 
Philbfctrois said:
Feel a bit sorry for Robson and Ward

Started last season with them 2 in centre midfield
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Neither contributed enough at League 1 level. In the Championship the game has tended to go on around them rather with them being a genuine influence on it.
Shame we've still got Stewart for another season too as some space needs to be cleared on the books for new blood. Either that or season ticket prices should be increased.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
It’s possible Ward was offered terms and chose not to accept. He’s also 3 years older, with an history of injuries.

I think we should make decisions based on individual circumstances and what is right for the club, rather than sentiment and being ‘consistent’.

We’re a football club, not a convalescent home
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Absolutely and I can't can't help that think if we'd hadn't got mullered at the weekend, the same folk who can't believe Ward has been released would be saying, "In Critch we trust".
 
Devonshire said:
Shame about Antwi looked a good prospect when he got some game time the other pre season but sure NC knows best
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Thought some of the young lads released had potential from what I’ve seen of them this season on the live stream games.
As for Antwi, what’s the point of developing our youngsters, sending them out on loans and never seeing them break into the 1st team? Really disappointing, especially with ex-Liverpool youth team in charge.
 
Insider said:
Football can be very cruel.
Wardy had some good (and bad) games for us but I'm afraid I have to agree with the "Top Brass" on this one.
By the same token however I probably wouldn't have offered Keogh another deal unless it was part of the coaching staff.
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Yes, that's about it Insider, football can be cruel and while others feel that Ward has been hard done by, nobody is celebrating somebody losing their livelihood - albeit temporarily - and Critch has to decide how to use the resources afforded to him as efficiently as possible, he is defined by his decision or should I say the result of his decisions and no room for sentiment.
 
Thatseasider said:
Thorniley, we’re definitely looking for a fee there.
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Read a report on Karl Robinson last week.
He said he was looking for a left sided centre back (now who could that be??🤔)

However Robinson's also in the running for the QPR job and Hibs have enquired too so Jordans future may not lay at Oxford 🤷
 
Insider said:
Bange was offered a new 1+1 deal but turned it down.
Not sure if that is a way of securing a little bit of extra money for him but unless he was been looked at by a National League side I can't see the fee being anything other than "modest".
Like any young player he does of course want to play so that will surely mean a permanent move away or another loan next season.
He started this season in fine form at Bamber Bridge but has stalled a bit since Christmas. Obviously I wish him all the best and hope he can make a career for himslf at EFL level.
Sadly I don't think it will be with us.
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Yeh I found this one really strange.

The only conclusion I came to was that we’ve activated the extra year to get, as you say a modest fee for him. It’s all money at the end of the day.

As ultimately he’s miles away from the first team at the minute, with him rejecting a contract what other explanation could there be to triggering the option.
 
Insider said:
Here's Scrafters current squad list.
We've not heard from the Academy yet about any end of season deals.
I'm led to believe at least 2 more of the 2nd years will get deals and there could even be a deal on the table for a first year.
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Looking forward to seeing Bez back in tangerine! Actually didn't start often for Northampton I think. We seem to have 24 over 21s without him, so players will have to leave to make room.
 
Toastrack said:
Hope the released kids get fixed up and can maybe bounce back. Look at big Marv for inspiration.
Johnny Johnston's a disappointing one, he seemed to have potential. But he's passed through Villa, Coventry & Wigan, they must have thought the same, so maybe he's just never kicked on as anyone hoped.
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I've been puzzled by Johnny's irregular appearances for the Youth team since Christmas and have never got to the bottom of it.
He tweets now and then and the tone of his tweets makes me think there's definitely been a falling out.
Watching him play I'd put money on Jack Grealish being his role model. He has that "impishness" about him and he certainly has an eye for goal, (scored 21 + 8 assists) although he's missed a few as well.
I'm sure he could make it at EFL level.
 
tangerine_neil said:
Thought some of the young lads released had potential from what I’ve seen of them this season on the live stream games.
As for Antwi, what’s the point of developing our youngsters, sending them out on loans and never seeing them break into the 1st team? Really disappointing, especially with ex-Liverpool youth team in charge.
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Maybe they just aren't good enough?
 
hertfordseasider said:
No surprises there, feel gutted for Ward, horrible injury. Good luck to all of them.

Kirk could come back of course, but not sure he will.

Keogh still to be around next season, seems sensible, the others all make perfect sense as Bowler will be sold as could Keshi. I hope we offer a new deal to Thorniley but it allows us to cash in if Oxford still want him and Critch doesn't.
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Thorniley wants to stay and I hope he does. Keogh will be a big help to our developing defenders and will no doubt be working on his coaching badges.
 
I've seen Johnston a number of times, most recently at Morecambe and in the recent final. He certainly has good skills and tried really hard in both games. Puzzling but, let's face it, most youngsters don't get taken on as pros. Also, we have probably signed more youths already this year than ever before.
 
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Goforgoal said:
He doesn’t always know best. He’s been trying to offload Thorniley for 12 months and he’s never let us down and now he’s taken up his option, I know it’s only so we will get a fee but all the same.
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I heard that Critch initially had a problem with Jordan, who couldn't understand what it was. However, after his excellent performances, with several MOM awards, on loan at Oxford, Critch changed his mind. Jordan does want to stay with us; however, let's see if Oxford make a move for him.
 
Fuck this, I'm lobbing a tenner on Bowler still being here next season if I can find a market, this 'done deal' assumption is annoying me.
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
Fuck this, I'm lobbing a tenner on Bowler still being here next season if I can find a market, this 'done deal' assumption is annoying me.
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The unknown future rolls towards us….We have to face it with a sense of hope, because if a footballing machine like Bowler, a terminator, can learn the value of playing well for a proper club and being appreciated and also the value of humanity over money, maybe we can too.
 
voyeur said:
Looking forward to seeing Bez back in tangerine! Actually didn't start often for Northampton I think. We seem to have 24 over 21s without him, so players will have to leave to make room.
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Bez... back in tangerine..... after whats happened....

trump-donald.gif
 
I'm not surprised by any of that. Hard to justify keeping Ward on with the injury history even though he has ability. On balance I think we are right to reduce risk and let him go. And not surprised Robson is off either.

Of those kept I think Bowler would go if we get a decent price, Anderson I'd expect to stay. The only other possible is Jerry might make a move if he got offered first team regular football and someone made us a good offer. I'd like to keep them all personally, as I look at Grafters spreadsheet and think we have strong depth in the front line resources for once.

I still think we may go back for Kirk as he was showing good signs as he got more time, and for me one of the best crossers of the ball we had (if not the best) - though that is a very limited pool in our current squad. I'd be happy to see him sign.

New players in will be interesting to see. I think it's a fairly universal that we need another first choice midfielder in that mix. I would actually like two but that might push it. Looking at the squad though, I'm unsure where else I would push the boat out to get someone in. Possibly an attacking midfielder on loan from a prem side? Maybe similar loan in at CB - I'm still not 100% Thorniley will stay with us as I think he may get sold.
 
Poolster said:
I've seen Johnston a number of times, most recently at Morecambe and in the recent final. He certainly has good skills and tried really hard in both games. Puzzling but, let's face it, most youngsters don't get taken on as pros. Also, we have probably signed more youths already this year than ever before.
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Johnson was already on a pro-contract.
As for signings I think there are at least 2 more to come.
 
voyeur said:
Looking forward to seeing Bez back in tangerine! Actually didn't start often for Northampton I think. We seem to have 24 over 21s without him, so players will have to leave to make room.
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If he can’t start for Northampton in league 2 then he won’t be anywhere near even our bench, regardless of what went on with him and his court case.
 
It's a huge shame for about Ward, I still say his performance away to Sunderland last season was the best individual performance from one of our players I've seen for years. But I think we've got to trust the club and clearly the main reason he's been released is his injury problems.

On the others, there seems to be a lot of people expecting Bowler, Anderson and Yates to all leave. I'd be very surprised if we allowed all three to leave, you'd basically be ripping out most of our assists and over a third of our goals. We have a squad that was competitive for this league, it needs tweaking and supplementing not dismantling. The only one I think will be sold is Bowler.
 
BFC_53 said:
It's a huge shame for about Ward, I still say his performance away to Sunderland last season was the best individual performance from one of our players I've seen for years. But I think we've got to trust the club and clearly the main reason he's been released is his injury problems.

On the others, there seems to be a lot of people expecting Bowler, Anderson and Yates to all leave. I'd be very surprised if we allowed all three to leave, you'd basically be ripping out most of our assists and over a third of our goals. We have a squad that was competitive for this league, it needs tweaking and supplementing not dismantling. The only one I think will be sold is Bowler.
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If Yates and Keshi want to go, let them go.
 
BFC_53 said:
It's a huge shame for about Ward, I still say his performance away to Sunderland last season was the best individual performance from one of our players I've seen for years. But I think we've got to trust the club and clearly the main reason he's been released is his injury problems.
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I don't think it's absolutely certain he's gone for good, I think the club might keep their options open on him depending upon fitness.
 
BFC_53 said:
It's a huge shame for about Ward, I still say his performance away to Sunderland last season was the best individual performance from one of our players I've seen for years. But I think we've got to trust the club and clearly the main reason he's been released is his injury problems.

On the others, there seems to be a lot of people expecting Bowler, Anderson and Yates to all leave. I'd be very surprised if we allowed all three to leave, you'd basically be ripping out most of our assists and over a third of our goals. We have a squad that was competitive for this league, it needs tweaking and supplementing not dismantling. The only one I think will be sold is Bowler.
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The squad we have left must be up at its numbers limit. If we aim to upgrade in a few positions, someone else needs to go.
 
TimperleyTangerine said:
I’m struggling to see how Ward or any player would turn down a contract when recovering from serious injury. He would want to be training and being cared for by the club.

If you consider ability and potential values when fit, the better bet would always be Ward.

As for your comment about us not being a convalescent home, the lad suffered a serious injury playing for us. We’re throwing him out at the first opportunity.

I’m not disagreeing with you, I’m just trying to get my head around the difference in treatment.
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Age difference? Virtue still has a full career ahead of him. Ward doesn't.

That's the only reason I can think of, leaving aside something the medics have said around his prognosis?
 
straightatthewall said:
Neither contributed enough at League 1 level. In the Championship the game has tended to go on around them rather with them being a genuine influence on it.
Shame we've still got Stewart for another season too as some space needs to be cleared on the books for new blood. Either that or season ticket prices should be increased.
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Robson has played one game since Christmas, the anonymous performance at Dumpdale. Can't say I'm surprised.
 
I have no issue with the kids released - none have delivered amazing performances at Div 1 or 2 teams and as we saw with Robson it’s a big step from even that level to the Championship- they’re a long long way off that level today.

Ward I like but I’m sure again we can replace with better. We’ve done fine this season but I’d rather we got more Bowlers and Connolly players this summer than trying to hope our Div 1 players can step up.

Let’s progress without too much nostalgia
 
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